Governors

Our Board of Governors

The Royal Russell Board of Governors has oversight of strategic direction, maintenance of standards, legal and regulatory compliance and ensures the control of the School’s finances.

We are fortunate to have the support of a well qualified Governing Body, chaired by Mr Andrew Merriman. Each governor gives their time, expertise and unique perspective to all matters regarding the effective running and development of the School. Board and Committee meetings are held three times a year.

The Strategy, Appointments and Remuneration Committee oversees the recruitment of the Senior Management Team and consider the long term strategy of the School. The Education and Welfare Committee and the Finance and Estates Committee oversee the implementation of policies and make recommendations in their respective areas of responsibility.

Parents can contact our Governors by email at: clerktogovernors@royalrussell.co.uk or by telephone on 020 8657 4433.

Andrew Merriman

Chair of Governors

Joined our Board of Governors in June 2005. Andrew is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee, Finance and Estates Committee and Strategy, Appointments and Remuneration Committee. He studied at Tonbridge School and then read Economics at Exeter University....

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Shirley Thompson

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in December 2022. Shirley is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee and joined the Board due to the merger of St David’s School and Royal Russell School. Previously the Chair of the St...

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Professor Ali Ansari

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in April 2019. Ali is Vice Chair of the Finance and Estates Committee. He is Professor and Director of the Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews. Ali is professor of Iranian history and...

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Olivia Bedell-Pearce

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in December 2022. Liv is a member of the Education and Welfare committee and, having previously been a governor at St David’s School, joined the Royal Russell Board due to the merger of St David’s...

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Nicholas Cobill

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in March 2018. Nicholas is Vice Chair of the Education and Welfare Committee. He is also a Barrister specialising in commercial litigation. He deals with high value commercial litigation arising from breaches of contract and...

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Peter Dawson

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in June 2020. Peter is a member of the Finance and Estates Committee. He has previous experience as a Bursar in the independent sector. Originally qualifying as an accountant, Peter has spent the majority of...

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Dr Agnelo Fernandes MBE

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in October 2006. Dr Fernandes is Chair of the Education and Welfare Committee. He is a member of the Finance and Estates Committee and the Strategy, Appointments and Remuneration Committee. Dr Fernandes has been an...

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Michelle Grant

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in December 2022. Michelle is a member of the Finance and Estates Committee and joined the Board due to the merger of St David’s School and Royal Russell School. Michelle has a background in Human...

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Cecile Halliday

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in October 2022. Cecile is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee. She is currently Head of Junior School, Northwood College for Girls; she previously worked on the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) Steering...

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Lisa Jessup

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in August 2012. Lisa is a member of the Estates Sub-Committee. Lisa is Director Group Support Services for an international marine fuels reseller business, based in Dubai UAE. Lisa has international senior executive experience in...

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James Lacey

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in March 2015. James is the Chair of the Finance and Estates Committee, is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee and a member of Strategy, Appointments and Remuneration Committee as well as being...

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Andrew Lorie

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in September 2016. Andrew is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee and the Finance and Estates Committee. Andrew has been a barrister for over 25 years and specialises in all aspects of family...

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Sir Philip Moor

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in July 2009. Sir Philip was a High Court Judge assigned to the Family Division until his retirement in October 2024. Whilst a judge, he was the Family Presiding Judge for Wales and then for...

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Nicola Rabson

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in July 2022. Nicola is a member of the Finance and Estates Committee and the Strategy, Appointments and Remuneration Committee. She is a partner in the Employment and Incentives group at London law firm, Linklaters...

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Andrew Roach-Bowler

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in December 2019. Andy is a member of the Finance and Estates Committee and Chair of the Estates Sub-committee. He is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with experience in the delivery of complex infrastructure programmes and...

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Jennifer Smith

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in December 2019. Jennifer is Vice Chair of the Strategy Appointments and Remuneration Committee and a member of the Education and Welfare Committee and has specific responsibility as the Staff Liaison Governor. A former CEO...

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Jane Burton

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in February 2026. Jane is a former Headteacher and CEO of a multi-academy trust and brings extensive experience in education and business. After graduating with a degree in Economics, she started her career working in...

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Dan Rogers

Governor

Joined our Board of Governors in November 2025. Dan is a Chartered Accountant and is currently the CFO of the Bridewell Royal Hospital Foundation, a group of independent schools. He has held senior leadership roles across the independent sector, state...

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What our Inspection Report says:

The quality of Governance is excellent.

The Governing Body provides excellent oversight of the educational direction of the School as a whole in line with its aims. Nominated Governors take a special interest in particular areas of the School, including safeguarding and child protection, health and safety and boarding.

Governors collaborate highly effectively with senior leaders to formulate a strategic plan, which is continuously monitored and evaluated.

The Governors have developed a highly effective system which enables them to have an excellent insight into the way the School operates. They make regular visits, both formal and informal, to the School and receive detailed information from the leadership team on all aspects of school life.

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report

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